A global approach to endodontic treatment

Prevalence of disease

Reports from the World Health Organization suggest that 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by oral diseases, with 2 billion suffering with caries in their permanent dentition.[i] If left untreated, caries can advance and become a severe problem. Disease can progress through the dentine, causing pulpitis and eventually leading to pulp infection and necrosis.[ii] Regular dental appointments are essential for monitoring lesions, and taking a preventative approach. This is because, when managed conservatively, the pulp can be encouraged to recover, even in cases with deep carious lesions.ⁱⁱ

A traditional caries treatment might include removing all carious dentine, however modern techniques opt for a minimally invasive approach, hoping to preserve as much natural tissue as possible, for as long as possible. This means selectively removing caries to reduce the risk of pulp exposure.ⁱⁱ Similarly, in previous years the complete removal of caries exposed pulp was the preferred treatment approach, with some clinicians’ opinions now shifting in favour of vital pulp treatments to encourage the repair of natural structures where appropriate.ⁱⁱ

Effectively managing individual patients

Patient needs continue to become more complex, with high expectations for treatment results perpetuated by social media. While this presents opportunities for growth and innovation, it can also be challenging for dental professionals to meet these needs.[iii] Around the world, patients will face different challenges based on their background and environment. Because of this, it’s important to cater to the individual needs of every patient, to offer the type of treatment which will best benefit them.

Assessing each unique case using the most effective diagnostic techniques and consulting the latest research to provide the most appropriate approach is essential to provide patients with the highest standards of care. By carefully managing damaged pulp through vital pulp treatment, for example, you may find favourable success rates in comparison to a pulpectomy.ⁱⁱ Education is key here, as the field of endodontics continues to grow and change, with technology playing a much bigger part in many clinicians’ daily workflows.

A global approach

When clinicians from different backgrounds come together, the international dental community is able to discuss the ways in which dental protocols can be improved for the good of patients’ wellbeing. Global networking proves to be an important way of advancing dental education and services around the world, with clinicians encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise with the dental community and receive feedback from their peers.ⁱⁱⁱ

As dental tourism continues to pose challenges for some patients and clinicians, the importance of global collaboration is further highlighted. Clinicians, from all areas, must be committed to producing the best possible outcomes for their patients.[iv] This is essential to ensure that those patients who are most in need, receive appropriate care, which supports oral health in the long-term. In doing this, clinicians should identify barriers to oral health, and innovate to help make improvements.^iv

Events such as the World Endodontic Congress (WEC) of the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA) encourage endodontic clinicians from around the world to meet and discuss progress in the field. Organised by the British Endodontic Society (BES) in 2024, the event provides insights into the endodontic health of the global population, the unique challenges faced in different areas, and presents an opportunity for endodontists to collaborate to find solutions and inspire development. With expert speakers from around the world, including Daniel Černy, Elisabetta Cotti, Adham Abdel Azim, Phil Tomson, and Paul Lambrechts, coming together for the event in Glasgow, from the 11th – 14th September 2024, to present sessions on cutting-edge endodontic techniques, delegates can expect an enriching programme.

Meeting with endodontic clinicians from around the world is beneficial for promoting progress in the field. In order to understand the various challenges faced by clinicians and patients from different backgrounds, professionals must discuss their experiences, and the modern innovations available to them to improve the situation for themselves and their patients. As rates of oral diseases including caries and periodontitis are projected to continue to rise, the dental community must collaborate on a global scale to minimise the impact, educate patients, and provide treatments which aim to promote the long-term health of the dentition.

Register today for IFEA WEC 2024 at ifea2024glasgow.com/registration

For more information about the BES, or to join, please visit the website www.britishendodonticsociety.org.ukor call 01494 581542

[i] World Health Organization, Oral Health fact sheet. Accessed November 23. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health

[ii] Bjørndal, Lars, et al. “Management of deep caries and the exposed pulp.” International endodontic journal 52.7 (2019): 949-973.

[iii] Patel, Upen S., et al. “ADEA‐ADEE Shaping the Future of Dental Education III: Engaging with global networking to enable global oral health.” Journal of Dental Education 84.1 (2020): 117-122.

[iv] Donaldson, Martin E., et al. “Dental education in a flat world: advocating for increased global collaboration and standardization.” Journal of Dental Education 72.4 (2008): 408-421.